Our communication manager, Alicia Stemper, is retiring next week. She has been in the position since February 2019, telling the people we serve the story of our work in both words and images. In her role, she is responsible for news releases, crisis communication, social media, relationships with journalists, maintaining our mobile app, fulfilling public records requests, and a myriad of other duties.
Alicia joined the Sheriff’s Office after serving as a magistrate, and a mitigation investigator. Earlier in her career, she was a crisis counselor with the Chapel Hill Police Department. Those experiences, combined with her writing and photography skills, prepared her for the unique demands of public safety communication. Our work is funded by taxpayers, and we are accountable for how we use those dollars. At the same time, we must comply with public‑records laws that limit what can be released about victims and children and uphold the due‑process rights of those accused. As Alicia has learned, crafting a news release that explains what happened, protects the investigation, and avoids further trauma—while still giving the public a clear understanding—is exceptionally difficult.
I asked her for 10 takeaways about her job that she would like to share with readers of this column. Here they are, in no particular order:
If people have a question, need assistance, or are confused about almost any community issue, the Sheriff’s Office is a good place to start.
Social media is a wonderful way to share information quickly with many people. That said, it is not a substitute for traditional journalism or critical thought. Moreover, it is generally a waste of time and keystrokes to argue with people on such platforms.
No one likes to hear “No comment.” Find something relevant you can share, even if it is just reassurance that trained people are doing their best.
Sometimes, events that happen hundreds of miles away can create a very busy day for a communication manager.
This community REALLY appreciates photos of icy/snowy roads.
Scammers are evil and very good at what they do. Continue to learn about their tactics and technologies. Remember the simple power of hanging up the phone.
Follow emergency preparedness advice. In times of mass disaster, preparation gives you a 72-hour head start on survival and is often the difference between an inconvenient few days and a full-blown crisis.
When you are on the road, drive sober, slow down, stop for pedestrians and school buses, and most importantly, don’t be a butthead. It’s not that hard.
Call people back. Reply to email. Double check details. Proofread EVERYTHING. Have someone else check your work. Be careful with humor and recognize that using the word “butthead” will not be amusing to some people. Accept that you will still make mistakes. Lather, rinse, repeat, but don’t use the word butthead again.
Under Sheriff Blackwood's leadership, our deputies, detention officers, and professional staff provide engaged, dedicated, and compassionate service to Orange County. Do your best to find work you love and good people to do it with, and you will never work a day in your life.
I can say from firsthand observation that Alicia generally worked with a camera in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. The essence of her job has been to tell the stories of what happens here and to introduce residents to the people who do the work of public safety.
Merrily McGowan will take over the communication manager role starting September 1. Please join me in welcoming her to the team!
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